MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ORGANISES 2020 BOOK REVIEW EXERCISE

…Education Boss charges reviewers on diligence and objective judgment.

The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Nse Essien has charged Book reviewers in the State to bring their wealth of experience and sense of objective judgement to bear as they discharge their assigned duties of reviewing and updating the content of our learning materials to meet approved standards and global competitiveness.

He gave the charge today while addressing reviewers at Community Secondary School, Aka Offot during 2020 Book Review Seminar Organised for Reviewers at the Upper Basic and Senior Secondary Education by the Directorate of Educational Development Services, Ministry of Education.

He stated that the importance of the exercise to the development of the State’s education system cannot be overemphasized as it is intended to deliver qualitative text materials that will be adopted into the secondary school system from September 2020 – 2023 school years. The periodic book review which ensures that the curriculum contents are effectively captured he said is in line with the directives of the Nigerian Education Research and Development Council (NERDC)

He enjoined them to critically examine each of the books taking into consideration the various indicators which are outlined in the approved guidelines. A careful application of these guidelines he maintained will enable them arrive at an objective decision to which book will positively affect the school system.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Host Principal, Mrs Favour Iniunam,
cited inability of the students to have access to textbooks and teachers to interpret the content and teach as expected as one of the problems of the public schools.
She thanked the reviewers for honouring the invitation and prayed God for wisdom for a successful review exercise so relevant textbooks are recommended at the end.

In Setting the tone for the event, the Director Education Development Services, Barr. Asuquo Selong said the concern of the meeting was to bring together professionals doing the practical aspects of teaching and enlighten them on the current innovative process and review guidelines based on an existing template designed by the Ministry. Furthermore he said the National Education research and development council (NERDC) oversees the periodic book review season to regulate the standard and quality of books read in our schools. According to him, book review is done every 3 years for the Junior and Senior secondary Schools and 6 years for primary schools.

In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Helen Ante enjoined the reviewers not to allow sentiments and subjectivity come into play but objectively review every book given to them as they would be held responsible for any recommendation made by them for the readership of students. She reiterated that the review must be based on the existing curriculum that is being used for the class being reviewed.

In a separate reaction, the SSA to the Education Monitoring, Mrs. Idong Etiebet thanked the Governor for his strides in the education sector which according to her had totally transformed the sector while urging the teachers to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them. She lauded the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Nse Essien for his innovative leadership style since he took over the reins in the Ministry while urging the teachers to be sincere and honest in their reviews as the quality of their contribution today will have an impact on the Akwa Ibom Child.